Pneumatic counter-balance for pump-rods of deep-well pumps



' (No Model.)

W. .F. TOOTHAKER.

PNEUMATIC COUNTER BALANCE FOR PUMP RODS OF DEEP WELL PUMPS.

No. 258,958. Patented June 6; 1882.

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UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. TOOTHAKER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIC COUNTER-BALANCE-FOR PLUMP-RODS F DEEP-WELL PUMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,958, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed January 31, 1882. (No model.)

in the State of California, have made and invented a new and useful Pneumatic Counter- Balance for Pump-Rods; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

\ exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing.

My invention has reference to an improvement in pumps for bored or deep wells where a long pump-rod is used; and it relates to a novel means of overcoming the effects of the gravity and momentum of the pump-rod upon the piston of the working-engine.

It consists in fixing on the upper end of the pump-rod, or upon a rod which is connected with and forms a continuation of the pump-rod, a small piston arranged and adapted to work in a cylinder, into the interior or chamber of which air is taken in and expelled at the ends in an'alternate manner by the movements of the piston, the inlet and ontletaperture's hearing such relation to one another as to size that the air taken in behind the piston during its movement in one direction is caused to escape through contracted or smaller openings at the return-stroke, and is'thereby subjected to pressure and made to act as a spring or cushion in checking the momentum of the rod.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A shows the steam-cylinder of a deep-well pump of the direct-acting kind. B is the bracket or frame of the engine, and G is the pump-rod.

In applying my invention to such a pump,

Iextend the upper end of the'pump-rod through the top of the steam-cylinder, so that it can receive and be secured to a small piston,D,which I inclose in a cylinder, E, placedabove and in line with the steam-cylinder. This smaller cylinder is closed at both ends by the heads f g, the lower one having the stuffing-box h, and the piston D works in it with a stroke equal to the length of movement of the pump-rod. I is the yoke or frame supporting the cylinder in line with and in working position above the steam-cylinder. Into each end of this cylinder E, I admit air at atmospheric pressure at both sides of the-piston through the inlets J K, so that air shall enter behind the piston during each stroke. The lower inlet, K, is asimthe cylinder-space at points distant from the head at each end, and while moving in the center portion of the cylinder between these openings the piston will meet with the least resistance from the air; but in passing either one of the openings the piston will close it and prevent further escape of airbetween that point and the head of the cylinder toward which the piston is moving. The remainder of the stroke is thus caused to compress the air in front of the piston, and the result is that a pneumatic spring or cushion is formed. To control the intensity of this pressure or the resistance of the confined air to the further movementof the rod, I provide the outlet-aperture communicating with the cushioning chambers or spaces of the ends of the cylinder, and, by means of the cooks p m, I'regul'ate the size of these. The outlets L and J thus govern the escape of the air confined between the piston and the cylinder-head at the termination of each stroke. By this means the momentum of the pumprod is smoothly and effectively checked, and the engine is perfectly relieved of jar or shock in working with a rod of great length.

As the gravity and momentum of the pumprod is greater in the down ward than at the upward movement, I provide an unobstructed inlet for the air-current to the piston D during its upstroke by using the valve'K, and as this acts-only as an inlet-valve, I provide the outletLfor controllingtheintensityof the air-cushion at the end of the downward movement of the piston. When applied and combined with the cylinder of a direct-acting engine in this manner, I fix the piston 1) at such point, with relation or respect to the steam-piston, that there shall be a small space between the smaller piston and the head of its cylinder where the main piston comes in contact with the head of its cylinder at the end of the stroke. While the air-cylinder is at work, however, the cushion formed by the action of the-piston D at the end of the stroke will prevent actual contact of the steam-piston, and the pump will work smoothly and reverse without shock or jar.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with the pump-rod of a deep-well pump, the piston D, arranged and adapted to work in a cylinder in which are provided air inlet and outlet apertures controlled by valves or cocks, substantially as hereinbefore described, whereby air is taken in behind the said piston during its stroke in one direction and is expelled or caused to escape through contracted or smaller openings on the returinstroke and from in front of the piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The cylinder E, adapted to receive the piston or head D ofa rod to be counterbalanced, having the apertures n in the side, and the up ertures L J, communicating with the ends of the cylinder-space, substantially as described,

the said apertures being provided with or controlled by cocks or valves, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a direct-acting steam-pump for bored and other deep wells, the combination, with the steam-cylinder having its piston-rod extended beyond and working through the top of its cylinder, 'of the piston D, secured to the end of said piston-rod, the cylinder in which said piston is adapted to work, and the inlet and outlet apertures in said cylinder provided with cocks or valves, substantially as hereinbefore described, whereby the movements of the main or steam piston are caused to produce an alternate induction and expulsion ofatmospherie air into and from the said cylinder in front of its piston, the amount or velocity of which entering and escaping air is controllable, for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN TOOTIIAKER. it.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. OSBORN, GEO. VINCENT. 

